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The Knights have struggled to be successful or find a top-notch halfback since Andrew Johns’s retirement more than 10 years ago.

The likes of fallen star Jarrod Mullen struggled to follow in the footsteps of the eighth Immortal, but Buderus is adamant Pearce won’t be daunted when he pulls on the Newcastle jersey in 2018.

“I think the legacy that’s been left there, it’s been a huge one,” Buderus told NRL.com.

“He’ll be just as loved (as Andrew Johns). (He’s) a play-making seven, which we haven’t had for a long time.

“If he can get this team to compete at the highest levels, he’ll be much loved by the people up here.”

Pearce’s acquisition ends months of heartache for Newcastle supporters after the club missed out on luring big names Cooper Cronk, James Graham, Jack Bird, Matt Scott or James Maloney to the club.

“It’s a huge coup for the people of Newcastle,” Buderus said.

“The package that’s sold here would not have just been about wins-losses. It would’ve been about leadership. It would be about starting a whole culture, starting a club again.

“That’s the thing that excites me from an old boy’s point of view. (Pearce is) someone that really wants to come here and make a difference off the field, and make the team his own. I think you can’t put a price on that.

“It’s been a tough decade … especially the past three years. This is just a huge piece of the puzzle to have Mitchell Pearce for the future.”

The 2013 premiership winner has agreed to terms on a four-year contract and joins former Roosters teammates Shaun Kenny-Dowall, Aidan Guerra and Connor Watson at Newcastle.